Nonlinear aeroelastic analysis of a twin-tail boom UAV with rudder freeplay nonlinearities

The issue of nonlinear structural freeplays in aircraft has always been a significant concern. This study investigates the aeroelastic characteristics of a twin-tail boom Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) with simultaneous freeplay nonlinearity in its left and right rudders. A comprehensive Limit Cycle Oscillation (LCO) solution route is proposed for complex aircraft with multiple freeplays, which can consider both accuracy and efficiency. For the first time, this study reveals the unique LCO characteristics exhibited by twin-tail boom UAVs with rudder freeplays and provides simulations and explanations of interesting phenomena observed during actual flight. The governing equations are established using the free-interface component mode synthesis method, and the LCOs of the system are mainly solved through the improved time-domain numerical continuation method and frequency-domain numerical continuation method. Furthermore, the study investigates the influence of the left and right rudder freeplay size ratio on the LCO characteristics. The results demonstrate that the twin-tail boom UAV exhibits two stable LCO types: close and differing left and right rudder amplitudes. The proposed method successfully describes the complete LCO behaviors of the system. Overall, this study makes significant contributions to our understanding of the aeroelastic behavior of twin-tail boom UAVs with rudder freeplays.